Seeing Dianna extend her arm, Elias froze for a moment, not immediately understanding her intention.
Then he realized—she was indicating he should examine her body.
Realizing this, Elias gave a light cough to remind her:
"Dianna, I don't need your arm to examine you."
"Or rather… I don't need physical contact."
With a careful sweep of his telekinesis, he could basically probe most of her condition.
At that, Dianna's body went slightly stiff, and the calm on her face showed faint signs of cracking.
As Queen, this was the first time she had felt so at a loss.
If she drew her arm back now, wouldn't that make things even more awkward?
With that in mind, Dianna only swayed a little where she stood.
Then she lifted her eyes toward Elias again, wearing exactly the same expression as before.
Seeing this, Elias took the hint and said:
"Of course, if there's physical contact, the examination can be more thorough."
As he spoke, he naturally took Dianna's small hand.
He had to admit—she was very different from Diancie.
Not only in temperament, but even the feel of her palm was a little different.
If Diancie's hand was like a little dumpling, soft and springy to the touch, then Dianna's held a certain suppleness.
When her hand was taken, Dianna quietly turned her face aside.
This was the first time anyone else had held her hand.
Even though he was merely a bodiless spirit, cool to the touch.
Strangely enough, the instant he clasped her, she felt a flush of heat.
As if a spark had leapt up from the depths of her heart, making her exhale a warm breath she couldn't control.
And when she remembered they were standing right outside her successor—Diancie's—room, that heat only flared more fiercely.
"Are you done yet?"
She frowned and asked Elias.
If she weren't sure he was only seriously examining her, she might have thought all these anomalies were his doing.
"Done."
Just as Dianna urged him, Elias finished his telekinetic scan.
He let go lightly, allowing her to withdraw her arm.
Dianna rubbed her wrist; it felt as though it had been seared by flame.
At the same time, even though she had already pulled her hand back, she was surprised to feel a trace of loss.
Realizing this, Dianna went slightly dazed.
After taking several deep breaths to clear her head, she spoke again:
"Well? Did you find anything?"
Her voice sounded just as before—still that same cool flatness.
"Mm."
Elias nodded.
"As I suspected, your body really is severely weakened."
"If there's no intervention, I'm afraid it won't be long before it collapses."
He felt he'd put it gently.
Dianna's body was already tottering on the verge.
Though she still looked healthy on the outside, her actual strength had likely taken a steep drop.
Dianna clearly knew this herself; she nodded lightly and didn't deny what Elias said.
"So—that's all you discovered?"
She asked in the tone of an examiner.
She knew all that already; if that was all Elias could say, she would be disappointed.
"No. I can't completely cure it for now, but…"
"I can at least ease the strain on your body as much as possible."
Elias answered her.
This time, Dianna's expression wavered a little.
But soon, she returned to calm.
"And how do you intend to convince me to believe you?"
She didn't think a ghost without a physical body could help her at all.
Elias didn't waste words.
He reached out again and, before Dianna could react, took her hand.
"You—"
Dianna frowned, ready to shake him off.
However—
"Mm."
A faint green glow flowed from Elias's palm, and that warm, cozy sensation instantly filled Dianna from head to toe.
Like a flower meeting longed-for rain, Dianna felt every inch of her being light up with excitement.
So much so that, usually so careful about her dignified image, she actually let out a small sound just now.
Only when Elias released her hand did she gradually come back to herself.
"Just now… what was that?"
Catching her breath, Dianna forced her voice to steady as she asked.
She wanted to scold him for being rude.
But remembering that shiver of thrilled excitement that had seized her entire body, she quietly swallowed the words back down.
"In my memories, it should be called the [Power of Viridian]."
Elias replied.
He had been born with three different abilities—something he had discovered a long time ago.
[Power of Viridian]…
Dianna silently etched the name in her mind.
Then she patted her still-warm cheeks, looked at Elias, and said:
"This power… for now, it's of some use to me."
With that, she simply looked at him, as though waiting for him to pick up the thread.
Seeing this, Elias naturally obliged:
"Then from now on, I'll go with Diancie to find you once a day."
And in passing, he could use the [Power of Viridian] on her.
At those words, Dianna was about to nod.
But when she thought of Diancie, she felt it was rather improper.
After all, that disgraceful look she had shown just now must not be seen.
It would harm her image as a predecessor.
Having found adequate reason to persuade herself, she continued:
"No. Same time as tonight, from now on."
"I'll come to Diancie's door to find you. Remember not to wake her."
Otherwise, Diancie might think she was trying to steal her ghost.
Dianna felt she shouldn't be misunderstood out of nowhere like that.
Elias nodded in agreement.
Since a spirit didn't need sleep, it wouldn't be any trouble.
Only—meeting at night and being told not to wake Diancie—somehow that sounded a little odd.
Seeing him agree, Dianna nodded in satisfaction.
She was very pleased with her arrangement.
"All right, you should head back. I'm going to rest as well."
Since she had confirmed the one by Diancie's side was a harmless spirit, she naturally didn't plan to meddle further.
Especially… after enjoying that wash of the [Power of Viridian], a sudden drowsiness had come over her.
Her head felt foggy, and she wanted nothing more than to tumble back onto her bed and sleep.
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T/N: i prefer dianna...